The smash hit West End and Broadway musical Jersey Boys celebrates its 7th London Birthday on 18 March with new casting.

From 10 March, Gary Watson will be joining the cast of Jersey Boys at the Piccadilly Theatre, playing Nick Massi.

Gary Watson

Gary Watson has previously appeared in West End shows including A Chorus Line, Matilda The Musical and Les Miserables. His recent screen work includes Victoria Wood’s That Day We Sang (BBC) and the film Cinderella directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Gary joins a cast that includes Michael Watson as Frankie Valli, Edd Post as Bob Gaudio and Jon Boydon as Tommy Devito. Sandy Moffat plays the role of Frankie Valli at certain performances.

Jersey Boys has been seen by over 19 million people worldwide and charts the rags-to-riches story of Franki Valli and the Four Seasons as they work their way from the streets of Newark to heights of stardom.

The cast of hit musical Jersey Boys joined Take That last night to switch on the Christmas lights on Regent’s Street.

Last night (Sunday 16 November 2014) the cast of smash-hit West End show Jersey Boys performed at a star-studded celebration to switch on this year’s Regent’s Street Christmas lights.

The lights on Regent’s Street, which are this year themed around new movie Museum: Secret of the Tomb, were turned on by Take That’s Mark Owen, Gary Barlow and Howard Donald.

The cast of Jersey Boys performing on Regent’s Street last night

The festivities were hosted by Heart Breakfast show presenters Jamie Theakston and Emma Bunton, joined by celebs including Jason Donovan.

The Jersey Boys – Michael Watson as Frankie Valli, Edd Post as Bob Gaudio, Jon Boydon as Tommy DeVito and Matt Nalton as Nick Massi – performed on the stage on Regent’s Street along with boy band Union J and Jessie Ware.

Jersey Boys has recently announced that it is extending its booking period at the Piccadilly Theatre until 25 October 2015.

The hit Tony and Olivier Award-winning show opened in London in 2008 and has now been seen by over 20 million people worldwide.

The show celebrates the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and their rise to stardom from the wrong side of the tracks and features songs including Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What a Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got), Bye Bye Baby, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You, Fallen Angel, Rag Doll and Who Loves You.

Now celebrating its 6th year in London, Thriller Live has played over 2,390 performances at the Lyric Theatre since it opened on 21 January 2009 and has sold over 3 million tickets worldwide.

Thriller Live joins the Top 20 list by usurping My Fair Lady, which had played for 2,281 performances at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in the late 1950’s.

Thriller Live will shortly overtake Oliver! and Grease in the list, being around 130 shows away from beating Grease.

Thriller Live announced earlier this month that the show was extending its booking period at the Lyric to 6 September 2015.

The producers of the show, Paul Walden and Derek Nicol, said: “We are thrilled that Thriller Live has entered the record books and joined the exalted ranks of the 20 most popular long running shows in the history of the West End. We look forward to breaking more records in 2015!”

Thriller Live is also the longest-running production ever at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue over the famous venue’s 125 year history.

Jersey Boys – 17th place

Another new addition to the Top 20 is Jersey Boys, which has gone in at number 17 having played over 2,740 performances in the West End, first at the Prince Edward Theatre and now at the Piccadilly Theatre.

Jersey Boys has pushed The Sound of Music off the list – it’s 1951 production starring Mary Martin at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane having played for 2,385 shows.

Jersey Boys is the smash-hit Broadway musicals that follows the rags-to-riches tale of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons as they work their way from the streets of Newark to the heights of stardom.

NOW PLAYING AT THE PICCADILLY THEATRE

Featuring hits such as ‘Sherry,’ ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry,’ ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,’ ‘Oh, What a Night’ and many more, Jersey Boys is a five-star night out in the West End.

Winner of 55 major awards worldwide, including the Olivier Award for Best New Musical and four Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Featured Actor in a Musical and Best Lighting Design of a Musical, Jersey Boys has been seen by over 18 million people worldwide.

Jersey Boys is directed by Des McAnuff, with a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and music and lyrics by Bob Crewe and The Four Seasons’ own Bob Gaudio. The creative team also includes choreographer Sergio Trujillo, production designer Klara Zieglerova, lighting designer Binkley and costume designer Jess Goldstein.

Jersey Boys opened at Prince Edward Theatre on 18 March 2008 (previews from 28 February 2008). It moved to the Piccadilly Theatre on 15 March 2014.

THE CAST

A talented cast includes West End star Michael Watson as Frankie Valli, Edd Post as Bob Gaudio, Jon Boydon as Tommy DeVito and Matt Nalton as Nick Massi. Sandy Moffat plays the role of Frankie Valli at certain performances.

THE STORY

In the show discover how four New Jersey boys from the wrong side of the tracks invented their own unique sound, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and sold 100 million records worldwide. With spectacular performances of all their hits, Jersey Boys is the electrifying true life story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons; the mob, the heartaches, the triumphs and the music.

If you thought there was a bit of romance missing from the West End of late, then fear not, Dirty Dancing is back!

The disappearance of Dirty Dancing from London Theatreland after a breathtakingly successful run left a big hole where Baby used to be, but she is back with a vengeance as the West End and touring production come to the Piccadilly Theatre in London for a limited season.

The classic story live on stage features all of the heart-pounding music, romance and sexy dancing you remember from the movie. The show also features hit songs including “Hungry Eyes”, “Hey Baby”, “Do You Love Me?” and – of course – “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.”

Viva Forever! is the brand new musical at the Piccadilly Theatre featuring the music of the Spice Girls.

Featuring 16 of the Spice Girls’ greatest hits, the team behind the worldwide smash-hit musical Mamma Mia! have produced the show, written by Ab Fab’s Jennifer Saunders.

Viva Forever! follows the highs and lows of a mother and daughter as they work their way through a TV reality singing contest, the show is set against the unforgettable songs of the world’s greatest ever girl band, including Spice Girls hits Wannabe, Say You’ll Be There, Mama, Stop and of course the title song, Viva Forever.

Dirty Dancing is back in the West End, as the smash-hit musical comes to the Piccadilly Theatre in London.

Based on the movie starring Patrick Swayze, Dirty Dancing is currently on a hugely successful national tour before heading back into the West End for a strictly limited season.

Written by Eleanor Bergstein, script writer of the original movie, the production features all the much-loved characters and original dialogue from the iconic film with exciting extra scenes added in.

The talented cast includes American actress Jill Winternitz as Baby Houseman, Paul-Michael Jones as Johnny Castle and Charlotte Gooch as Penny Johnson.

The tantalising dance sequences and brand new choreography come alive on stage, set to all the hits from the unforgettable soundtrack, including ‘Do You Love Me?’, ‘Hungry Eyes’ and the Academy Award Winning ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life’, plus many additional songs, making the show a truly extraordinary live experience.

THE STORY

It’s the summer of 1963, and 17 year old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman is about to learn some major lessons in life as well as a thing or two about dancing.

On holiday in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents, ‘Baby’ shows little interest in the resort activities, and instead discovers her own entertainment when she stumbles upon the staff quarters when an all-night dance party is in full swing. Mesmerised by the raunchy dances move and the pounding rhythms,’Baby’ can’t wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle the resort dance instructor.

‘Baby’s’ life is about to change forever as she is thrown in at the deep end as Johnny’s leading lady both on-stage and off with breathtaking consequences.